24 Jan January 24, 2018 – Vulnerability Barry Kaplan, Franchise Expo Tom Portesy, and CES Sarah Evans
“The audio file was removed when we switched hosts. Sorry. The cost was prohibitive. If you need the file, contact us and we will send it.”
Barry Kaplan – Partner at Shift180, LLC and Author of 
Barry Kaplan inspires leaders and their teams to declare what they want and coaches them to access their power to make it happen. Barry’s coaching wisdom comes from his experience leading teams in the tourism industry ranging from COO of a 200-store chain with over 2,000 employees, division President, and Board member of a public company in dining, entertainment, and travel, and co-founder and senior executive of a twenty-one company roll up in leisure travel. He has coached hundreds of executives and works extensively with leadership teams and YPO forums. He has been a member of YPO since 1993 and active volunteer in community affairs. Being “the boss” isn’t always easy. Business owners, CEO’s, and other executives can feel overwhelmed by the need to be the one with all the answers, 24/7. But it doesn’t have to be this way, say leadership experts Barry Kaplan and Jeff Manchester. In their new book, “The Power of Vulnerability,” they explain that by shedding the burden of having to be “right” all the time, people in charge can worry less about what they have to provide in terms of direction and ideas, and will have a newfound freedom to explore the bigger picture. Moreover, by being willing to step back and let to others take the reins, they will unlock their teams’ true potential.
Tom Portesy – CEO of MFV Expositions
Tom Portesy is the President & CEO of MFV Expositions, producers of Franchise Expo South, the largest franchise expo serving the southern United States and Latin America. Tapping into Dallas lucrative marketplace, this years expo offers a look into the hottest franchise trends as attendees can explore various emerging, international, and mature franchise opportunities with an investment level from as little as $10,000 to over $1 million. Tom has more than 25 years of global sales and executive management experience. He has been President of MFV Expositions for more than ten years and CEO since 2009. During this time, MFV Expositions has taken on many iterations, adapting to the ever changing market place. Tom oversees a staff of thirty professionals producing three leading franchise events in the United States. In addition, Tom is exceptionally active in many International Franchise Events operated by MFV Expositions or strategic partners. He is also responsible for the global network of partners involved in MFV’s emerging international online business. Working closely with the International Franchise Association and many franchise associations around the world, he has participated as a panelist and moderator in countless educational seminars and symposia.
Sarah Evans – CES Digital Correspondent, Strategist & CEO of Sevans Strategy and Author of [Re]frame: Little Inspirations for a Larger Purpose
Sarah Evans is the chief evangelist at Tracky and proprietor of Sevans Strategy, and advertising and new media consultancy. Sarah is also a digital correspondent. That includes social and digital strategy, talent, editing and publishing with her company Sevans Strategy. She works with companies, like PayPal and Cox Communications, as a digital correspondent and runs a popular digital lifestyle publication Sarah’s Faves. Sarah previously worked with a local crisis center to raise more than $161,000 in three weeks via social media and is proud to be a team member of the Guinness Book World Record holder for the #beatcancer campaign. Her career is a mashup of all her favorite things. She began her career in communications and government relations and a love of technology forever changed her professional path. While her focus over the past ten years has been public relations, she’d “morphed” into a correspondent and consultant, sharing all things digital lifestyle. Sarah can be seen in Vanity Fair’s Americas Tweethearts, Forbes’ 14 Power Women to Follow on Twitter and Entrepreneur’s Top 10 Hot Startups of 2010. Her latest venture under her company (Sevans Strategy) umbrella is the digital lifestyle publication, FAVES + CO. She is with us today to report on the latest trends from the Consumers’ Electronic Show.
